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Saturday, July 20, 2013

Seasoning a Chalkboard + Chalkboard Quote

We moved into our current home a little over a year ago. At the time, we did quite a lot of "fixin-up."

I have loved our new kitchen, (check out the before and after pics). I've been completely undecided about what to do for my one wall though.

Leave it empty for clean-ness and simplicity?

Cute china plate display?

Shelves?

Wall art?

In the end I finally decided I wanted to jump on the chalkboard bandwagon. Mostly because 1) they look cute and 2) I keep reading these inspiring quotes or thinking of inspiring mantras that I want to try and remember throughout the day. You know, things, that will inspire me when I need it--motivate me to respond better to my kids, put a smile on my face, whatever. I've tried writing them in my planner, but that only works so well. A friend of mine says she puts sticky notes up on her bathroom mirror. Totally what I need, but I wanted something in the hub of the house.

Enter the kitchen chalkboard.

So I was going to make one. Took a few trips to the thrift store to find a frame, never found anything.

Then I went to TJMaxx to go dress shopping for my daughter and bam! super cute chalkboard that matches my kitchen perfectly. So I bought it. :) Easy peasy.

First step for the chalkboard: season it!

Huh?

Well yes, you should "season" your new chalkboards. I've read this a few times out in blog land with all the chalkboard craze going on.

Basically, your newly purchased or newly painted chalkboard needs seasoning in order to make it erasable. If you write directly on your new chalkboard without first seasoning it, then your writing will saturate the chalkboard in those areas and be very difficult to erase. (It's called ghosting). Don't want that.

So, ya season it.

How do you do it?

Easy. Just talk a piece of chalk, lay it on its side and cover the entire board with chalk. Go back and forth and then up and down. Once it is covered as shown above, erase it with an eraser or cloth and it is good-to-go.

Ah! now what quote to write on it? There's only about a million that I love.

Well, I decided to start with a good one about having love and peace and kindness in our home. One from our very own prophet, President Thomas S. Monson.

"May your homes be filled with love and courtesy and with the Spirit of the Lord."

-Thomas S. Monson, May 2012

Now, want to know something funny?

The chalkboard is upside down!!! That's why I didn't show it to you on my lovely kitchen wall--the hooks to hang it from are on the bottom. Alas. All that work....

It'll be propped up for the next few days (at least) until I build up the motivation to erase it and write a new one. :)

Also, p.s. sneak peak at the picnic table I'm working on... Oh, it's going to be so fun a cheery!!